Phlox plant named ‘Triple Play’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Phlox , ‘Triple Play’, characterized by its flowers that are pink in color with a darker pink eye zone, its variegated foliage with green centers and a creamy white margins that are flushed with pink when grown under cool temperatures (spring and autumn), its short stature, and its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5.

Botanical Classification: Phlox glaberrima ssp. triflora.

Cultivar designation: ‘Triple Play’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox glaberrima ssp. triflora ‘Triple Play’and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Triple Play’.The new cultivar represents a new herbaceous perennial grown forlandscape use.

The Inventors discovered the new cultivar, ‘Triple Play’, in theirgarden in Carlisle, Mass. in September of 2002. ‘Triple Play’ originatedas a single variegated basal stem mutation on an unnamed plant of Phloxglaberrima ssp. triflora.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemlayering in Carlisle, Mass. in September of 2002 by the Inventors.Propagation by stem layering and stem cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar for a period of six years. Theseattributes in combination distinguish ‘Triple Play’ from other varietiesof Phlox known to the Inventors

-   -   1. ‘Triple Play’ exhibits flowers that are pink in color with a        darker pink eye zone.    -   2. ‘Triple Play’ exhibits variegated foliage with green centers        and creamy white margins that are flushed with pink when grown        under cool temperatures (spring and autumn).    -   3. ‘Triple Play’ matures to a shorter height than is typical of        the species.    -   4. ‘Triple Play’ is hardy at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5.

‘Triple Play’ differs from its parent variety in having variegatedfoliage. In addition, the ‘Triple Play’ is shorter in height, maturingto about 38 cm in height with the parent plant maturing to 60 cm to 75cm in height. The new cultivar is most similar in plant habit and flowerform to the cultivar Phlox glaberrima ‘Morris Berd’ (not patented).‘Triple Play’ is comparable in having a similar growth habit and flowercolor. ‘Triple Play’ differs in having variegated foliage and a morecompact growth habit. The new cultivar may also be compared to Phloxstolonifera ‘Variegata’ (not patented). ‘Variegata’ is similar in havingvariegated foliage, however, ‘Variegata’ differs from ‘Triple Play’ inbeing a cultivar of a different species, in having a vigorousstoloniferous habit, blooming about four weeks earlier, exhibitingleaves that are more rounded, and in being shorter in height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Phlox. The photographs weretaken in June 2008 of two year-old plants of ‘Triple Play’ as grownoutdoors in a garden in Carlisle, Mass. The photograph in FIG. 1 is aview of a plant of ‘Triple Play’ in bloom. The photograph in FIG. 2 is aclose-up view of the flowers of ‘Triple Play’. The Photograph in FIG. 3provides a close-up view of the foliage in spring. The colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of two year-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown outdoors in a garden in Carlisle, Mass. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with The 2007 RHS Colour Chart of the Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   -   -   Blooming period.—3 to 4 weeks in mid June in Massachusetts.        -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial, upright.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 38 cm in height and about            20 cm to 38 cm in spread.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 5.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Branching habit.—Flowering stems branch freely from the            basal foliage.

-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings, division or stem layering.

-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem size.—Flowering stem; an average of 34 cm in length and            1.8 mm in width, basal leaves (non-flowering); an average of            11 cm in length and 2 mm in width.        -   Stem shape.—Oval.        -   Stem color.—A blend of 197B and 194A with basal stem            suffused with 187B.        -   Stem surface.—Finely puberulent.        -   Stem aspect.—Held nearly upright.        -   Internode length.—An average of 2.8 cm on lower nodes and 5            cm on upper nodes.

-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic to oblanceolate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, not conspicuous, vein color matches            leaf color.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface.—Smooth and finely puberulent on upper and            lower surface.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface newly formed and mature; centers            138A and margins a color between 11C and 11D, lower surface            newly formed and mature; centers range from 191A to 191B and            margins a color between 11C and 11D, in cooler seasons the            margins become flushed with 70B and 70C.        -   Leaf size.—Flowering stems; an average of 5 cm in length and            1.8 cm in width, basal; up to 6 cm in length and 1.8 cm in            width.        -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 18 per flowering branch and 22            per basal branch.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.

-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Panicles of 6 flowers on terminus of            stem and 1 to 3 flowers per lateral branch with 4 lateral            branches per stem.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 3 to 4 weeks from the            opening of the first flower to senescence of last flower            dependant on climactic conditions.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 9 cm in height and 12 cm            in diameter (including peduncles).        -   Flower fragrance.—Mild phlox fragrance.        -   Flower number.—Average of 15 per inflorescence, one            inflorescence per flowering stem.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright to horizontal, dependant on location            of the inflorescence.        -   Flower bud.—An average of 2.5 cm in length and up to 6 mm in            width, with petal portion conical in shape and a blend of            85A and 85D in color with margins of petals N88B.        -   Flower form.—Explanate with base tubular.        -   Flower size.—An average of 2.5 cm in length and 1.8 cm in            width.        -   Corolla tube.—About 1.9 cm in length, 3 mm in width, a blend            of N80B and N80C in color, very finely puberulent surface.        -   Corolla lobes.—5, orbicular in shape, held horizontally when            fully open, touching and occasionally overlapping, about 1            cm in length and width, apex rounded, base fused to tube,            entire margins, upper surface color; a blend of N80B to 81B            with markings on eye ring 71D, lower surface color; a blend            of N80D and N155B, surface very finely puberulent on upper            and lower surface.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate in form, comprised of fused sepals with            sepal tips free, an average of 1 cm in length and 4 mm in            width.        -   Sepals.—5, primarily fused with free tips, linear to            oblanceolate in shape, margins entire and slightly ciliate,            base fused, apex attenuate, an average of 1 cm in length and            2 mm in width, surface is finely puberulent, color is 4D            with stripes and base 144D and speckled with N77B.        -   Peduncles.—Oval in shape, an average of 7.5 cm in length on            lower flowers and 2.5 cm in length on upper cymes, an            average of 1.2 mm in width, puberulent surface, color a            blend of 197B and 194A.        -   Pedicels.—Oval in shape, an average of 4 mm in length and 1            mm in width, puberulent surface, color a blend of 144A, 197B            and 194A.

-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, stigma has 3 linear branches about 2 mm            in length and 8A in color, style is about 1 cm in length,            less than 1 mm in width, and 145C in color, ovary is            inferior, 2 mm in length, 1.2 mm in width, oblong in shape            and 145B in color.        -   Androcoecium.—5 stamens, protanderous, anthers are            dorsifixed, thread-like in shape, and 1.5 mm in length, 11A            in color, filaments are adnate to corolla, 3 mm in length,            85D in color, pollen is abundant and 13A in color.        -   Seeds.—Not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Triple Play’ asherein illustrated and described.